There are only three forms of physical exercises that give equal strength to the joints and blood vessels in our bodies:yoga, karadi sadhana and archery. I don’t know why people have given up the skill of archery in the present day.Sri T. Krishnamacharya

Green Smoothies

Green Smoothies

What are green smoothies?

Why Drink them?

Here are my thoughts after drinking them for almost 10 years…

Green smoothies are all the rage and are promoted as one of the best things you can do for your health. I suggest doing your own research about what your body needs, if a green smoothie is the best choice and which green smoothie recipe is most suitable.

There is a lot of different recipes and suggestions out there, I just read the following: …” green smoothies are usually made up of about 40% leafy greens, 60% fruit and sometimes contain a bunch of other goodies to make them tastier or more nutritious such as chia or flax seeds, maca or camu powder, cacao nibs, hemp protein, spirulina or coconut oil…”

My green smoothies have been a real natural blend of lettuce, various leaves from the garden (eg silverbeet, spinach, kale etc), celery, banana, and in season fruit to make it palatable. During the summer months I have a morning smoothie and during the winter months I like to drink it in the middle of the day when the morning chill has passed. This is not a fixed regime, however, and I always listen to my body’s needs.

According to Ayurveda, it should be noted that if you have a robust Pitta or Pitta/Kapha constitution with a super strong digestive fire and a body in need of a little cooling, you will be able to tolerate green smoothies better than most. On the other hand, if you have a strong influence of Vata in your constitution, you should not overdo them, especially during the winter months.

Here are some Ayurvedic recommendations for preparing green smoothies:

add a pinch of turmeric and ginger and a squeeze of lemon to the mix to aid digestion

have them at room temperature, not cold… or even add a little hot water

keep the ingredients to a minimum, keep it simple and less dense – less is more!

add a little coconut oil to offset the dry/rough qualities of the veggies

try them without fruit or minimal fruit

avoid the addition of superfoods – they make them even heavier

only have them a couple of times a week, not daily – remember to listen to your body.

Use a high quality blender because it is really important to break the fibre right down.

Again, never add ice cubes, have your smoothie at room temperature.

If you are in any doubt, it is a great idea to see an Ayurvedic Practitioner (or a practitioner of your choice whose advice resonates with you) for specific recommendations.

Again, Make it your own…. don’t follow any recommendations because somebody said so or posted it online. It needs to suit your personal constitution. You might follow TCM, Ayurveda or another philosophy but it needs to suit you, to nurture you in the long run.